Federal Contracting Made Easy, 3rd Edition

Learn how to break into and succeed in the federal government marketplace with this comprehensive guide outlining everything you need to know about federal contracting. Federal Contracting Made Easy, 3rd Edition, is an all-in-one source designed to give you a full understanding of how the federal government acquires supplies and services. This practical handbook provides references to contracting regulations, size standards, contracting activities, federal publications and forms, subcontracting opportunities, and much more!

This fully updated, step-by-step guide will help you:
-Understand how the government issues procurement opportunities
-Navigate the red tape to speed your way to a successful contract
-Decode confusing rules
-Get to know the key players
-Learn the various types of contracts
-Overcome contracting obstacles

Federal Contracting Made Easy, 3rd Edition, will guide you through the inevitable challenges of federal contracting. Use the most current resource available for your organization today!

The five parts to this book form a clear roadmap to doing Federal Government business. Part I gives the big picture and rules of the game. These rules cover the sources of contract terms and conditions that you are going to see in any federal contract, including applicable laws with which you need to comply and the role of agencies such as the Defense Contract Auditing Agency. If you've never engaged in a federal contract these rules will determine whether you should even be in the game.

Part II describes special programs and opportunities available to certain businesses, subcontracting (especially useful if your business model is to team with prime contractors), and Federal Supply/GSA opportunities for companies selling finished products. Part III describes marketing strategies for federal business. This area is vastly different from marketing to commercial entities, but is similar in many respects for going after business at the state and county government level. This information is also useful when you're marketing to large companies that do government contracting, such as aerospace. Their procurement policies and processes will probably mirror those of the Federal Government.

Although Part IV is about government procurement and acquisition procedures, most large companies have similar procedures, so this part of the book is useful for both government and commercial contracting. Part V is my favorite because it explains in great detail each contract type (fixed price, cost reimbursement and other types and variations). This information is applicable to both government and commercial business and the in-depth treatment that the author gives is the best I've seen. If you're considering or are engaged in government contracting this book is one that should be close at hand, both as a reference and as training material for your project managers, marketing staff and anyone who is a part of a proposal team. I also highly recommend augmenting this book with Robert S. Frey's Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses - the combination of both books will give you and your company a significant advantage in winning and keeping federal contracts.


The best general book on government contracting available   October 27, 2003
Citizen John (Washington, DC)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

I've read many books on government contracting. I think this is the best primer on the market. Chapters are well-organized and the writing is succinct. The graphics are useful, including government forms, rate calculations, sample cost formulas, and more. The bid formula example for a small disadvantaged business (p.63) and the progress payment schedule (p.253) are just 2 of many excellent and easy-to-understand graphics.


Do you think government contracts are hard to get?   August 17, 2004
L. Hobson (Palmdale California)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

Scott Stanberry shows you just how easy it is to contract for the government. Some contractors take one look at the government spec's and throw up their hands. Government spec's aren't as hard as they look. This book will take you step by step through the process of bidding government contracts. Once you get use to the paper work, which this book shows you some of, you have it made. Read this book and go out and make your fortune in government contracting.

Larry Hobson- government contractor for over 30 years


From the Horse's Mouth - Where's the Best Value   January 18, 2006
Eyes Have It
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Currently a member of the Federal Acquisition workforce, I see this book covers the gamut, as we know it. Particularly impressive is its coverage of GSA. GSA is a prime Federal market research tool. This can give prospective contractors an idea of what government organizations regularly buy, and government contacts for soliciting business.

As an insider, there does still exist widespread indirect nepotism; cronyism; military who roll into contracts, and other versions of same (so much so that various government bodies such as Government Accounting Office handle contests of unfair play), so the better you know the rules of the game, the better your chances of getting in and getting your fair play of public funds. Government is pro small business; however, you have to slog thru bureaucracy, and that means having the information to even get started and what to do. The driving force is supposed to be acquiring the "best value" for public funds for a requirement. This book can be a map to help you on your journey to propose how you can get the job done. If you know where you want to go, pick up this map, and get the edge to get there.



BUY THIS BOOK!   May 5, 2001
Evelyn Rollins (Lanham, MD USA)
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

Wow! This book is an excellent source of ideas and information for landing profitable contracts with the federal government. I recommend Federal Contracting Made Easy to all my clients and it is required reading for our marketing department.